Mechanism for operating sectional doors



E. P. HAINES. MECHANISM FOR. OPERATING SECTIONAL DOORS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, 1919- Patented Apr. 12; 1921.

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FIG: 1-

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E. P. HAINES.

MECHANISM FOR OPERATING SECTIONAL nooks.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3,1919- Pate r lted Apr. 12, 1921.

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IIVVE/VTOR lz g. @252 ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD 1. HAINES, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB TO PATENT APPLIANCE CQMPANY,A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

MECHANISM FOR OPERATING SECTIONAL DOORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 12, 1921.

Application filed May 3, 1919. Serial No. 294,621.

P. HAINES,

door. section hung on links or equivalent,-

whereby after rise through predetermined distance of a lower section, the links cause the tops of the door sections to move in unison into an inclined position.

It is the object of my invention to provide mechanism for operating a sectional door structure of the character referred to in such manner that the door sections are practically perfectly balanced during independent movement and during movement in unison with each other.

To this end I have devised structure of the character hereinafter described.

For an illustration of some of the various forms my structure may take, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is an elevational view of the door sections with their operating and balancing means.

Fig.2 is a vertical sectional view, parts-in elevation, of the structure shown in'Flg. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of operatlng mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig.1. 1

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2, with the door sections in their open positions.

F1 7 is a diagrammatic view of a modified form of my invention wherein a single counterweight cooperates simultaneously with a plurality of door sections.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, 1

and 2 are, respectively, lower and upper door sections which in Figs. 1 and 2 are shown in their lowermost or closed positions. On pins or stub shafts 3 secured to i the door section 1 at any suitable height, as

building B. Attached to'each of the pins 3 or at any suitable higher point as m, Fig. 6, are chains or cables 6 assing over the pulleys or sprocket wheels keyed or other- W158. secured in fixed relation upon the operating shaft 8. To the other ends of the chains 6 below the sprocket wheels 7 are connected counterweights 9, whose combined weight is substantially equal to the weight of the lower door section 1.

Attached to the sides of the upper door section 2 are pins 10 whose proper or suitable location is important in effecting the substantially perfect balance established by my mechanism. To the pins 10 are attached the chains 11 which pass over the sheaves or pulleys 12', which are loose or free to rotate upon the shaft 8, or may be mounted on separate pins or shafts located as desired, and are connected at their other ends to the counter-weights 13, whose combined weight is substantially equal to the weight of the I 18, which is rotated by the hand chain 19.

The operation is as follows: With the doors in their lowermostor closed positions as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, they may be opened by pulling upon the hand chain 19, which causes rotation of the shaft 8. The sprocket wheels 7 being keyed upon the shaft 8, are positively rotated thereby and thereby positively actuate the chains 6 and lift the lower door section 1,, which moves in a vertical direction until the lugs 20 carried thereby engage the upper end of the upper door section 2, causing it then to rise in unison with the lower doocr section 1. The links' 21, pivoted to the building or other fixed abutments at 22 and at 23 near the upper end of the upper door section 2, cause the door sections to swing out into position indicated in Fig. 6 as the opening movement nears completion.

1 As the door sections rise from their lowermost position as .described, the counterweights 9 and 13 operate, respectively, upon the door sections 1 and 2 to counterbalance them, which counter-balancing is easily maintained substantially perfect during simple vertical movement or independent vertical movement of either door section. But when they move in unison in the circular or curvilinear path enforced by the links 21, the counter-balancing is not substantially perfect in the usual or ordinary case, but in my arrangement where the chain 11 of the upper door counterweight 13 is attached at a suitable point 10 to the upper door section, the counterbalancing and counterweight action is substantially perfeet, so that throughout both the simple vertical movement and the curvilinear movement the door sections or the entire door structure is substantially perfectly counterbalanced, rendering the same the more readily or more easily operable.

The point 10 is preferably and suitably located between the lower edge of the upper door section and the pivotal point 23 for the links 21; and is preferably about as indicated in the drawings when the center of gravity of the door sections falls approximately on the horizontal center line of the door structure, where the point 10 is somewhat above the middle of the upper door section 2 and yet below the pivotal point 23 of the links 21.

The chain 11 is attached at the point 10 in suitable relation with respect to the center of gravity of the door sections when in position in which they move in unison. The degree of perfection of balancing may be varied by varying the point 10 with respect to the center of gravity, and in the example illustrated is somewhat above and to the right of the center of gravity, as viewed in Fig. 6. By so applying the chain 11 to the upper door section materially above its lower edge, and preferably, though not necessarily, as indicated, counter-weighting means of constant magnitude may be employed, without recourse to variable radius cones, sheaves, or other mechanism, substantiallyperfect counterbalance is effected both when the door sections are moving in unison through their curvilinear path as well as when moving in their vertical or rectilinear paths.

In closing the'door's the chain 19 is pulled in opposite direction and the doors return under the influence of the links 21, and guide or rail 5, to their lowermost or closed positions, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, with substantially perfect counter-balancing through theclosing movement.

The above described form of my invention is my preferred one in that it involves separate and distinct counterweights for the upper and lower door sections.

It will be understood, however, that I may employ also counterweight structure which is common to both upper and lower door sec tions as indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 7. Here sheave 12 is shown mounted on pin 29 instead of on the end of shaft 8 in order to show more clearly the sprocket wheel 7 and sheave 12. This may also be done in practice for mechanical convenience without departing from my invention. In this case a chain 26 has one end connected to the door section 1, passes over the chain sprocket wheel 7 around the sheave 27 attached to the fat suitable point, as 10, to the upper door section 2 and to the lower door section .1, as at m.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with door sections, of means for raising one of said door sections and thereafter another section in unison with said one section, structure tilting said door sections into inclined position, and means for counter-balancing said door sections throughout their entire range-ofmovement comprising counter-weighting means of constant magnitude, and means connecting said counter-weighting means to one of said sections at a point between its top and bottom and adjacent the center of gravity of the door sections when in position in which they move in unison.

2. The combination with door sections, of means for raising one of said door sections and thereafter another of said door sections in unison with said one section, link structure tilting said door sections into inclined position, and means for substantially perfectly counterbalancing said door sections throughout their entire range of movement comprising counter-weights attached, respectively,'to said door sections, and a connection from one of said counter-weights to one of said door sections between the bottomand top thereof and adjacent the center of gravity of the door sections when in position in which they move in unison.

3. The combination with door sections, of means for raising one of said door sections and thereafter another of said door sections in unison with said one section, link struc- 4. The combination with door sections, of means for raising one of said door sections and thereafter another of said door sections in unison with said one section, link structure pivoted to a fixed abutment and to said other door section approximate its upper end, and couuterbalancing means connected to said other door section intermediate its lower end and the point of connection of said link structure thereto.

5. The combination with door sections, of means for raising one of said door sections and thereafter another of said door sections in unison with said one Section, a roller carried by said one section and engaging a fixed guide, link structure pivoted to a fixed abutment and to said other door section causing said door sections to swing into inclined position by a. pivotal movement about the axis of said roller, and means substantially perfectly counterbalancing said sections throughout their movement.

6. The combination with door sections, of means for raising one of said door sections and thereafter another of said door sections in unison with said one section, a roller carried by said one section and engaging a fixed guide, link structure pivoted to a fixed abutment and to said other door section causing said door sections to swing into inclined position by a pivotal movement about the axis of said roller, a counterweight connected to said one section, and a counterweight connected to said other section at a point intermediate its upper and lower ends.

'7. The combination with door sections, of means for raising one of said door sections and thereafter another of said door sections in unison with said one section, a roller carried by said one section and engaging a fixed guide, link structure pivoted to a fixed abutment and to said other door section causing said door sections to swing into inclined position by a pivotal movement about the axis of said roller, a counterweight connected to said one section, and a counterweight connected to said other section intermediate its lower end and the point of connection of said link structure thereto.

8. The combination with door sections, of means for raising one of said sections and thereafter another of said door sections in unison with said one section, structure tilting said door sections to inclined position and restraining said door sections from attaining substantially horizontal position, counterweighting means of constant magnitude connected to said sections, the connection to one of said sections being at a point between'the top and bottom thereof and adjacent the center of gravity of the door sections when in position in which they move in unison with each other.

9. The combination with door sections, of means for raising one of said sections and thereafter another of said door sections in unison with said one section, structure tilti'ng said door sections to inclined osition and restraining said door sections rom attaining substantially horizontal position, a counter-weight attached to the lower door section adjacent its lower end, and aiio-ther counter-weight connected to another of the door sections between the top of said other section and the center of gravity of the door sections when in position in which they move in unison with each other.

10. The combination with door sections, of

means for raising one of said door sections a EDWARD 1. HAINES. 

